Barr Completes Coaching Staff

2005-06 OHL Coach of the Year Joins Avalanche Bench

The Colorado Avalanche Hockey Club announced today the appointment of Dave Barr as assistant coach. Along with head coach Tony Granato, assistant coach Jacques Cloutier and goaltending coach Jeff Hackett, Barr rounds out the Avalanche coaching staff for the 2008-2009 season.

“Dave brings a vast coaching experience both at the professional and the major junior levels,” said Avalanche Executive Vice President and General Manager Francois Giguere. “He showed great commitment and work ethic as an NHL player for more than a dozen years and most recently managed a strong program in Guelph.”

“I’m really excited to add Dave Barr to our coaching staff,” said Avalanche Head Coach Tony Granato. “I’m confident that he will bring to our players the qualities and character he demonstrated for many years in the NHL.”

Barr, 47, arrives in Colorado after four seasons with the Guelph Storm of the Ontario Hockey League, where he served as both general manager and head coach since 2004. He won the Matt Leyden Trophy honoring him as the OHL’s Coach of the Year during the 2005-06 season and served as head coach of Canada’s National Summer Under-18 Team at the Ivan Hlinka Memorial Tournament in August of last year. Prior to his years in the OHL, he served as an assistant coach in the International Hockey League with Orlando (1995-97) before spending two seasons (1999-01) as an assistant and head coach with the Houston Aeros (IHL).

Barr, a Toronto, Ontario native, is a veteran of 614 regular season games in 13 NHL seasons as a forward with the Boston Bruins (1981-83), New York Rangers (1983-84), St. Louis Blues (1983-87), Hartford Whalers (1986-87), Detroit Red Wings (1986-91), New Jersey Devils (1991-93) and Dallas Stars (1993-94).

“I am very excited to join this hockey team and to have an opportunity to return to the National Hockey League,” said Barr. “The Avalanche has established itself as a premier organization in hockey and in major league sports. I feel very privileged to be a part of this group and am already looking forward to the start of training camp.”